Burial vault cover forming apparatus



Oct. 31, 1967 W. w. HAASE, JR, ET AL 3,350,051

BURIAL VAULT COVER FORMING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1Q, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet l v 1- A 53 Wu. H -fi 53 //VVE/VTO/?$.

W/LBERTW HAASE, JR. 1- H/CHARD G. RE/CHLE r By JOHN E. WE/V/VER BERG, JR 7 L9 M W A T/v E F? EH L Oct. 31, 1967 w. w. HAASE, JR., ET AL 3,350,051

BURIAL VAULT COVER FORMING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 10, 1964 5 R. 8 RR aw 6 m iw 7 N 5 H wi MH H 5 HRM R MGM 6 WW E EAN In I \X/ 2 l MWH T W? m Mmw H 5 Q 9 ai 2 3 0 K. 2 Wu 0 H 4 $3 7 g 9 2 A 3 ll L3 Oct. 31, 1967 w. w. HAASE. JR., ETAL 3,350,051

BURIAL VAULT COVER FORMING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. W/LBERT WH/JASE, JR. R/C'HARD G. RE/CHLE JOH/VE. WE/V/VERBERG, JR. H EH The Oct. 31, 1967 w w, HAASE, JR" ET AL 3,350,051

BURIAL VAULT COVER FORMING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Shet 4 Filed Nov. 10, 1964 HAASE, JR

' //Vl/E/V TORS. W/LBERTW 7 Emw H m E mm Mg m a E W IF/ M T MN Oct. 31, 1967 w. w. HAASE, JR, ETAL 3,

BURIAL VAULT COVER FORMING APPARATUS m, 7 5 mmw H i N E M m H h J m w 53 m a N E m h. s T 6 v 8/ W/LBERTW HA R/CHA RD 6. F? JOHN E. W5

Filed Nov. 10. 1964 Oct. 31, 1967 w. w. HAASE, JR, ET AL 3,350,051

BURIAL VAULT COVER FORMING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 10, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 9/ INVENTOR W/LBERT w. HAASE, A.

RICH/1RD G. RE/CHLE JOHN E. WE/V/VERBERQJR.

L E 4.1) @flw TELEIR'H United States Patent f BURIAL VAULT COVER FORMING APPARATUS Wilbert W. Haase, Jr., Fond du Lac, Wis., and Richard G. Reichle, Riverside, and John E. Wennerberg, Jr., Forest Park, Ill., assignors to American Wilbert Vault Corp.,

Forest Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 410,202 18 Claims. (Cl. 249-91) This invention relates to a burial vault cover forming apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved burial vault cover forming apparatus for use in making burial vault covers from cement or socalled concrete mixes.

Heretofore in the art of making burial vault covers for concrete burial vaults it has been common practice to form and shape the burial vault cover upon a stationary horizontal mold, with the Work done largely by hand, the ultimate shape of the cover depending to a substantial extent upon the skill of the operator. One result of this has been that such prior art burial vault covers have frequently been incorrectly and improperly formed and the operations have been slow, laborious and expensive.

Hence, a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved burial vault cover-forming apparatus for making burial covers from cement or concrete mixes and which in use enables such burial vault covers to be formed of such cement or concrete mixes expeditiously and uniformly and at a substantial saving in time and labor.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved burial vault cover forming apparatus embodying a bottom form unit and a top form unit which are adapted to be assembled together, and novel means for fastening or anchoring the top form unit to the molded burial vault cover during the molding operation to the end that the top form unit and attached molded burial vault cover may be lifted as a unit from the bottom form unit and the top form unit and attached burial vault cover inverted, whereupon the fastening or anchoring means may be released from the burial vault cover, and the burial vault cover lifted therefrom.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide in the new burial vault cover forming or molding apparatus novel means for holding or retaining metal Wire handles in the mold cavity during the molding operation and so that the wire handle members will be anchored in the body of the concrete burial vault cover during the molding operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the new burial vault cover forming apparatus a bottom form unit including a bottom wall having spaced slots or openings therein through which wire handles may be inserted into the mold cavity and novel means for closing said slots or openings in the bottom wall of the bottom form unit during the molding operation so as to prevent the concrete mix from dropping therethrough during the molding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the new burial vault cover forming apparatus novel means for holding a sheet of Wire mesh reinforcing material in proper position of use in the mold cavity during the molding operation and so that it will be come properly embedded in the concrete body of the completed concrete burial vault cover and thus most effectively serve its intended purpose as reinforcing material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved burial vault cover forming apparatus which, in use, enables the molded or cast cover to be removed from the form while the form is inverted, thereby eliminating the necessity for turning the cast or molded cover Patented Oct. 31, 1967 while it is still green or uncured, and thus minimizing the danger of fracturing the cast cover and the outer marginal lip or flange portion thereof.

Other and further objects will appear hereinafter. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the new burial vault cover forming and molding apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view on line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional View on line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical sectional view on line 5-5 in FIG. 2, with parts broken away;

FIG. 6. is an enlarged sectional detail view, partly in elevation, on line 6-6 in FIG. 2, illustrating the novel means embodied in the present invention for holding or retaining the wire handle members in the mold cavity during the molding operation and for closing the slots or openings in the bottom wall of the bottom form unit, through which the wire handle members are inserted, during the molding operation so as to prevent the cement or concrete mix from flowing therethrough during the molding operation;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view on line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view on line 8-8 in FIG. 5, illustrating part of the anchoring means embodied in the new burial vault cover forming apparatus for anchoring the body of the burial vault cover to the upper or top form unit during the molding operation;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view illustrating a typical burial vault cover made in the use of the new burial vault cover forming or molding apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the burial vault cover shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view, on line 11-11 in FIG. 9, illustrating the construction of a burial vault cover made in the use of the new burial vault cover forming or molding apparatus:

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view illustrating the novel means embodied in the present invention for detachably latching the top and bottom form unit of the new burial vault cover-forming apparatus together during the molding operation and for separating them after completion of the molding operation;

FIG. 13 is a sectional detail view on line 13-13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the novel means embodied in the present invention for anchoring the upper or top form unit of the new burial vault cover-forming apparatus to the body of the burial vault cover during the molding operation and for separating the top or upper form unit from the body of the burial vault cover after the completion of the molding operation:

FIG. 15 is a plan view partly in section, on line 15-15 in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a sectional detail view on line 16-16 in FIG. 14, illustrating the construction of the anchoring means embodied in the present invention for anchoring the body of the vault cover to the top form unit of the new vault cover-forming apparatus during the molding operation;

FIG. 17 is a central longitudinal sectional view illustrating the manner in which the upper or top form unit and attached molded burial vault cover are removed from the lower form unit at the completion of the molding operation;

FIG. 18 is a central longitudinal sectional view illustrating the top form unit anchored to the body of the burial vault cover after the completion of the molding operation and before the burial vault cover has been separated from the top form unit;

FIG. 19 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the top form unit of the new burial vault cover-forming apparatus and showing the completed burial vault cover the top form unit and showing the anchoring means separated from the body of the burial vault cover and showing the top form unit being removed from the cast or molded cover;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of the novel means embodied in the present invention for retaining the wire handle members in the mold cavity during the molding operation and for closing the slots or openings in the bottom wall of the bottom form unit, through which the arms of the wire handle members are inserted, during the molding operation;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional detail view on line 2121 in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, of another means embodied in the present invention for anchoring the burial vault cover to the top form unit during the molding operation;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary detail view further illustrating the means shown in FIG. 22 for anchoring the burial vault cover to the top form unit during the molding operation;

FIG. 24 is a sectional detail view on line 2424 in FIG. 23; and

FIG. 25 is a detail view showing the manner in which the sheet wire mesh reinforcing material is secured and held in proper position in the mold cavity by fastening it to the laterally extending arms of the wire handle members which project into the mold cavity.

A preferred embodiment of the new burial vault cover forming or molding apparatus is illustrated in the drawings, wherein it is generally indicated at 15, and comprises a supporting frame 16 which includes upper vertically extending supporting legs 17, which are arranged at the upper end of the supporting frame 16, and lower and shorter vertically extending supporting legs 18 which are arranged at the lower end of the supporting frame 16 with the result that the complete burial vault cover form unit or molding apparatus 15 is disposed at an inclined position, that is, at an acute angle relative to the horizontal, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when in position of use.

The new burial vault cover forming or molding apparatus comprises a form or molding unit, generally indicated at 19, which includes a generally trough-shaped lower or bottom form unit 20 and a top form unit 21. The bottom form unit 20 includes a main bottom wall portion 22 having an upper and upwardly inclined end walls 23, a lower upwardly inclined end wall 24, and side walls 26 extending therebetween (FIGS. 4, and 12), the upper end wall 23 being provided with a laterally extending guide flange 25, which is adapted to support a funnelshaped member 93, for a reason which will be pointed out presently.

The top form unit 21 includes a lower form section 27, which is complementary in shape to the bottom form unit 20, and this lower form section 27 includes a main bottom wall portion 28 and angularly upwardly extending end wall portions 29 and 30 and side walls 81 which are complementary to, and which are adapted to extend generally parallel, to the end walls 23 and 24, and the side walls 26, respectively, of the bottom form unit 20 (FIGS. 5, 12 and 16).

The lower form section 27 of the top form unit 21 includes a generally channel-shaped groove-forming marginal wall portion 31 which extends laterally around the marginal edges of the wall 28 of the lower form section 27 of the top form unit 21, including the end walls 29 and 30 and the side walls 81 thereof (FIGS. 4, 5 and 12).

As best shown in FIG. 12, the groove-forming marginal flange 31 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21 has a laterally extending marginal flange 80.

The top form unit 21 also includes a box-like upper section 32 which includes end walls 33, side walls 34 and a top wall 35 and the end walls 33 and side walls 34 of the box-like top form section 32 project upwardly from and are continuous and integral with the laterally extending marginal flange of the bottom section 27 of the top form unit 21. An opening 36 is provided in the top wall 35 for reasons which will be pointed out hereinafter.

It will be noted, particularly by reference to FIG. 5 of the drawings, that when the bottom form unit 20 and the top form unit 2127 are assembled upon the supporting frame structure 16, the laterally extending flange 25 on the upper end wall 23 of the bottom form unit 20 cooperates with the adjacent upright end wall 32 of the top frame unit 21, and adjacent parts, to define a throat or inlet 37 through which the concrete or cement mix may be poured from an overhead hopper 38, generally indicated at 38 in FIG. 5, into the funnel-shaped member 93, and thence into the mold cavity MC provided by the bottom form unit 20 and the bottom section 27 of the top form unit 21. As is well known in the art, suitable metal wire reinforcing mesh material 40 may be inserted into the mold cavity MC prior to the pouring operation so as to reinforce the body 39 of the burial vaule cover 41.

During the molding operation the groove-forming marginal flange 31 on the top form unit 21 forms a marginal or peripheral groove 42 on the under surface of the side and end walls of the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings, for a reason which will be pointed out hereinafter.

The present invention also embodies a plurality of novel latching units 43 (FIGS. 1 and 2) for detachably latching the top form unit 21-27 to the bottom form unit 20 during the molding operation. One of these latching units is shown in detail in FIGS. 12 and 13 of the drawings, and these latching units 43 are arranged at spaced intervals along the sides of the new molding and forming apparatus 15 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

Thus, it will be noted (FIGS. 12 and 13) that each of the latching units 43 includes a generally right-angularly shaped bracket member 44, which includes a horizontal base portion 45 and an upright portion 46, which is welded as at 47, to the outer surface of one of the side walls 26 of the bottom form unit 20. Each of the latching units 43 also includes a relatively shorter upright latch plate member 50 which is welded, as at 51, to the horizontal Wall portion 45 of the adjacent rightangular shaped bracket member 44. Each of these latch plate members 50 has latch pin opening 52 formed therein which is adapted to register with a corresponding latch pin opening 50 in the adjacent latch plate 48. Each of the latch pins 53 has a head 54 formed thereon at its outer end.

Thus, it will be noted that when the top form unit 21- 27 is assembled upon and with the bottom frame unit 20 the right-angular shaped bracket members 44 will be disposed, as in FIGS. 12 and 13, with the lower horizontal arm 45 of each of the bracket members 44 resting upon a horizontal wall 48 of the supporting frame 16 so as to support the assembled molding or forming apparatus in position of use upon the supporting frame 16. The latch pins 53-54 are then inserted into the registered openings 52 in the latch plate members 48 and 50, respectively, so as to detachably latch the top form unit 21-27 to the bottom form unit 20.

It is customary practice to provide in concrete burial vault covers a plurality of generally U-shaped wire handle members which are embedded therein at suitably spaced intervals so that the wire handle members will project from and above the upper surface of the burial vault cover to facilitate lifting the burial vault cover, in use. The body 39 of the burial vault cover 41, which is formed in the use of the new cover-forming apparatus, includes four of these generally U-shaped wire handle members 55 which are embedded in the body 39 thereof at spaced intervals therearound and with the bail portion of each of the handle members 55 projecting above the upper surface of the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 so as to facilitate handling and lifting of the burial vault cover 41 after it has been completed and when it is being transported to a cemetery and installed in position of use upon a box-like body portion 56 of a burial vault of which it forms a component part.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the wire handle members 55 includes a bail portion 91 and a pair of laterally extending arm portions 59 and the present invention provides a plurality of novel wire handle retaining units for retaining the arm portions 59 of the wire handle members 55 in the mold cavity MC during the molding operation. Such novel wire handle retaining units are generally indicated at 57 and the present invention embodies four of such units arranged at suitably spaced intervals around and in relation to the bottom form unit 20. One of such wire handle retaining units 57 is shown in detail in FIGS. 6, 7 and 20 of the drawings, and will now be described.

Thus, by reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 20 of the drawings, it will be noted that the bottom wall portion 22 of the bottom form unit 20 has four slots or openings 58 formed therein, one in association with each of the wire handle retaining units 57, and the arm portions 59 of each of the wire handle members 55 are adapted to be inserted through one of these slots or openings 58 in the bottom wall portion 22 of the bottom form unit 20 into the mold cavity MC prior to the molding operation.

Thus, each of the wire handle retaining units 57 includes a pair of spaced suspension brackets 60 WhlCh are welded or otherwise attached to and are suspended from the bottom wall 22 of the bottom form unit 20, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 20 of the drawings.

In addition, each of the wire handle retaining units 57 includes a pair of relatively shorter spaced supportlng brackets 61 which are welded or otherwise attached to and are suspended from the bottom wall 22 of the bottom form unit 20 within and between the longer suspension brackets 60, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 20 of the drawings. Each of these supporting brackets 61 has a shelf portion 62 formed thereon at the lower end thereof and each of these shelf portions 62 has a rounded upper supporting surface 63 which is adapted to support the bail portion 91 of one of the wire handle members 55.

Each of the wire handle retaining units 57 also includes a 'pair of pivotally mounted closure member supporting arms 64, which are arranged in spaced relationship between the suspension brackets 60, and these pivotal closure member supporting arms '64 are attached to a pivot member or pin 65 which extends horizontallybetween and is rotatably mounted in suitable openlngs formed in the suspension brackets 60, at the lower end of the latter. These pivotal closure member supportmg members 64 support and have extended therebetween a resilient cylindrical closure member 66, which may be made of rubber -or like resilient material, and which is adapted to be disposed below a corresponding slot or opening 58 in the bottom wall 22 of the bottom form unit 20 so as to close the said slot or opening 58 during the concrete pouring and molding operations, as will be eX- plained more fully hereinafter.

Each of the wire handle retaining units 57 also includes an operating handle member 67 which has a bent or angled portion 68 between its upper and lower ends, and this bent or angled portion 68 is welded or otherwise attached to the rotatable pivot member 65. This operating handle member 67 has an upwardly extending and oifset portion 69 which extends upwardly between the suspension brackets 64 and has an upper end portion 70 which is adapted to engage the bail portion of one of the wire handle members 55 so as to retain the bail portion 91 of the wire handle member 55 in position of use upon the rounded upper supporting surfaces 63 of the shelf portions 62 of the supporting brackets 61.

In the use of the wire handle retaining units 57 one of the wire handle members 55 may be positioned with the bail portion 91 thereof resting upon the rounded upper supporting surfaces of the shelf portion 62 of the supporting brackets 61 and with the arm portions 59 of the wire handle members 55 inserted up through the corresponding slot or opening 58 in the bottom wall portion 22 of the bottom form unit 20 into the mold cavity MC. The operating handle member 67 may then be manipulated, (clockwise, from dotted to full line position in FIG. 7), Whereupon the upper end portion 70 of the operating handle member 67 will engage the bail portion 91 of the wire handle member 55 so as to retain the same upon the rounded upper supporting surfaces 63 of the shelf portions 62 of the supporting brackets 61. In this manner, the wire handle member 55 is retained in proper position during the concrete mix pouring and molding operations.

As the operating handle member 67 is thus moved into effective position (clockwise, from dotted to full line position, FIG. 7), the supporting arms 64 and the resilient closure member 66 carried thereby are pivoted therewith, thereby moving the resilient closure member 66 under the adjacent slot or opening 58 in the bottom wall 22 of the lower form unit 20 so as to close the latter and thus prevent the concrete mix from dropping therethrough during the molding operation.

In this manner the insertion and the retention of the wire handle members 55 in proper position in and relative to the mold cavity, and in the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41, is greatly expedited and facilitated.

However, the manner in which the wire handle members 55 are attached to the reinforcing wire mesh 40 at the start of the molding operation, and the operation of the wire handle retaining units 57 and of the resilient cylindrical closure members 66, will be described more fully hereinafter.

After the molding operation has been completed each of the operating handle members 67 may be manipulated (counterclockwise, from full to dotted line position, as in FIG. 7) so as to move the supporting arms 64 and the resilient closure member 66 carried thereby out from under the slot or opening 58 in the bottom wall 22 of the bottom form unit 20 so that the wire handle members 55 are thus freed to be drawn through the slots or openings 58 in the bottom wall 22 of the bottom form unit 29 as an incident to the separation of the upper or top form unit 21-27 from the bottom form unit 20, after the completion of the molding operation, as will be described hereinafter.

The present invention also provides a plurality of novel anchoring units for anchoring the top form unit 21-27 to the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 during the molding operation and for separating the top form unit 21-27 from the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 after the molding operation has been completed. One form of such anchoring units is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 8, and 14 to 19, inclusive, of the drawings and is there generally indicated at 69. The present invention utilizes two of such anchoring units 69, one arranged at each end of the top form unit 2127, and another pair of such anchoring units 69. Each of the anchoring units 69 embodies means for holding an anchoring member, in the form of a steel anchoring rod or pin member 70, in position of use within the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21 and in such position, and in such manner therein, that one end portion 71 of the anchoring rod or pin member 70 projects into the mold cavity MC and into the body 39 of the concrete burial vault cover 41 formed therein, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 18, during the molding operation and during the setting or hardening operation, and until such time as it is desired to separate the top form unit 2127 and attach molded burial vault cover 39-41 from the lower or bottom form unit 20.

To this end, each of the anchoring rods or pin members 70 is slidably mounted in suitable openings provided therefor in a series of spaced vertically extending supporting bracket members 72, 73 and 74 which are suitably welded to the bottom wall 28 and adjacent upwardly inclined end walls 29 and 38 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21 so that the anchoring rods or pin members 70-71 may be slidably moved therealong, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

A latching member in the form of a disc 75 is mounted on each of the anchoring rods or pin members 69 between the two outer supporting bracket members 73 and 74 and a latch member 76 is hingedly mounted, as at 77, on the upper end portion of the innermost bracket 72. This hinged latch member 76 has .a series of spaced latching teeth 78 arranged thereon and these latching teeth 78 project downwardly from the hinged latch member 76 at spaced intervals therealong. As best shown in FIGS. 8, 14 and 15, each of the anchoring rods or pin members 70 is slidably projected through an opening or slot 82 formed in one of the upwardly and angularly extending end walls 24 and 29 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21.

Manual access is had to the anchoring rods or pin members 78 through opening 36 in the top wall 35 of the box-like upper section 22 of the top form unit 21, and at the start of each molding operation the anchoring rods or pin members 70 are slid from their innermost and ineffective positions, in which they are shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, to their outwardly projected and efiective anchoring positions, as shown in FIGS. 14, and 18, so that the outer end portion 71 of each of the anchoring rods or pin members 70 project into the mold cavity MC between the upwardly inclined outer end wall portions 29-30 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21 and the corresponding upwardly inclined end wall portions 23-24 of the bottom form unit 20. Hence, when the concrete mix is poured into the mold cavity MC and hardens therein the outer end portion 71 of each of the anchoring rods or pin members 70 becomes embedded within the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41. After each of the anchoring rods or pin members 70 has thus been slidably positioned, the hinged latching member 76 is pivoted, on its hinged mounting 77, into effective or latching position, as shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 18, and in which the latching member or disc 75 on the anchoring pin or rod member 70 is latchingly engaged between two of the downwardly extending latching teeth 78 on the hinged latching member 76 so as to retain the anchoring rods or pin members 70 in proper position of use and with the outer end portions 71 thereof projecting into the mold cavity MC in position to be embedded in the concrete body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 as the latter is formed and sets or hardens.

As best shown in FIG. 12, the marginal or peripheral flange 80 of the top form unit 21-27 projects laterally from the groove-forming portion 31 and this marginal flange 80 is adapted to rest upon the upwardly extending side walls 26 of the lower form unit 20.

The side anchoring units 69a which are embodied in the present invention, and which cooperate with the end anchoring units 69, for anchoring the top form unit 21-27 to the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 as an incident to and during the molding operation, and which also assists in holding the sheet of wire reinforcing material 40 in proper position of use in the mold cavity MC, are illustrated in FIGS. 2, 22, 23 and 2.4 wherein each of these side anchoring units is generally indicated at 69a. The two side anchoring units 69a are generally similar to the end anchoring units 69 but are arranged at the sides of the top burial form unit 21-27, approximately midway between the ends thereof, rather than at the ends of the top form unit 21-27, as shown in FIG. 2. These side anchoring units 69a are particularly adapted for anchoring the top form unit 21-27 to the body of the burial vault cover at the sides of the latter rather than at the end portions thereof, as in the case of the end anchoring units 69, and for retaining the side portions of the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material 40 in proper position in the mold cavity during the molding operation.

Tho'se parts of the side anchoring units 69a which correspond to, or which are in general similar to, those parts of the end anchoring units 69, are given the same reference numerals followed by the additional distinguishing reference charatcer :2.

Thus, by reference to FIGS. 2., 22, 23 and 24, it will be noted that each of the side anchoring units 69a includes an anchoring pin or rod member 70a which is slidably mounted in a pair of upright supporting brackets 73a and 74a which are arranged at spaced intervals laterally upon and are carried by the bottom wall 28 of the lower section 27 of the top form until 21 with the outer end portion 71a of each of the side anchoring rods or pin members 70a being adapted to be slidably projected through an opening 82 formed in one of the side walls 81 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21, as shown in FIG. 23. Each of the side anchoring rods or pin members 7 011-7 1a in the side anchoring units 69a has a latch member in the form of a disc 75a mounted thereon, between the supporting brackets 73:; and 74a, and each of these anchoring discs 75a is adapted to engage in a latching notch 83 which is formed in an arm portion 84 of a latch member 85 which includes a portion 86 which is rigidly attached, as by welding, to an angle iron cross brace member 88 which extends crosswise of the top form unit 21 within the lower section 27 thereof (FIGS. 2, 4, 22, 23 and 24).

The side anchoring units 69a cooperate with the end anchoring units 69 to anchor the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 to the top form unit 21-27 as an incident to and during the molding operation, and they also cooperate with the end anchoring units 69 and with the wire handle members 55-59-91 to anchor or hold the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material 40 in proper position in the mold cavity MC during the molding operation. The anchoring rods or pin members 7001 are slidably movable laterally relative to the top form unit 21-27 through the slots of openings 82a formed in the side walls 81 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21, as shown in FIG. 23, so as to project the outer end portions 71a thereof into the mold cavity MC and through the wire mesh deinforcing material 40 therein.

In order to latch the side anchoring rods or pin members 70a in position of use, with the outer end portions 71a thereof projecting into the mold cavity MC and through the wire mesh reinforcing material 40, and into position to be anchored in the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41, the latch members 85 are pivoted on their hinges 87 into the position in which the parts are shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 with the anchoring disc members 75a engaged in the latching notches 83 of the arms 84 of the latch member 85, thereby latching the anchoring rods or pin member 70a-71a in position of use and preventing longitudinal movement thereof during the molding and setting operations.

After the burial vault cover 39-41 has been completed the anchoring rods or pin members 70a may be released from effective or anchored position by pivoting the hinged latch members 84-85 on their hinges 87 so as to disengage the latching notches 83 in the arms 84 of the latch members 84-85 from the latching discs 75a and then sliding the anchoring rods or pin members 7011-7111 upon their supporting brackets 73a and 74a so as to withdraw the outer end portions 71a out of the body 39 0f the burial vault cover 41 and out of the mold cavity MC.

Grappling hooks 89 are attached to the box-like upper section 32 of the top form unit 21-27 to facilitate lifting the top form unit 21-27 and the attached burial vault cover 39-41 after the completion of the molding operation.

As best shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 14, 15, 23 and 25 of the drawings, one of the novel features of the present invention is the manner in which the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material 40 is secured and held in proper position within the mold cavity MC during the molding operation. This is accomplished, in part, by the anchoring rods or pin members 70-71 and 70a-71a, by reason of the fact that the outer end portions 71-71a thereof project through the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material 40 and hence serve, in part, to retain the wire mesh reinforcing material 40 in proper position within the mold cavity MC during the molding operation. In addition, the laterally extending arms 59 of the generally U-shaped wire handle members 55 further cooperate with the anchoring rods or pin members 70-71 and 70a-71a to secure the wire mesh reinforcing material 40 in proper position within the mold cavity MC during the molding operation to the end that it will be properly anchored in the body 39 of the concrete burial vault cover 41 where the latter has been completed, and thus most effectively serve its intended purpose as reinforcing material. To this end, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 25 of the drawings, the wire mesh reinforcing material 40 is fastened to the laterally extending arms 59 of the generally U-shaped wire handle members 55, by fastening means in the form of wires 92, at the start of the molding operation, and prior to the time the top form unit or core 21-27 is inserted in the bottom form unit or core 20.

Operation The operation and use of the new burial vault cover forming apparatus are as follows:

Prior to the time the top form unit or core 21-27 is inserted into the bottom form unit or core 20 the generally U-shaped wire handle members 55-59-91 are inserted into position of use by projecting the laterally extending arms 59 thereof through the slots or openings 58 in the bottom wall 22 of the lower bottom form unit or core 20 so that the bail portion 91 of each of the generally U-shaped wire handle member 55-59-91 rests upon the rounded supporting surfaces 63 of the shelf portions 62 of the supporting brackets 61, whereupon the manual operating means 67-68-70 for the wire handle retaining means 57, and for the closure member 66 is manipulated clockwise from the position in which the parts are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7 into the position in which they are shown in full lines in FIG. 7.

This movement causes the upper end portion 70 of the operating member 67-68-70 to engage the bail portion 91 of the wire handle member 55-59-91 so as to retain the wire handle member 55 with the laterally extending arm portions 59 thereof projecting through the slot 58 in the bottom wall 22 of the lower bottom form unit or core 22 and into the area which becomes the mold cavity MC when the top form unit or core 21-27 is inserted into position of use relative to the bottom form unit or core 20. The same operation of the common operating means 67-68-70 for the wire handle member retaining means 57 and for the resilient closure member 66 (clockwise from dotted to full line position in FIG. 7), pivots the supporting bracket members 64 on and with the rotatable pivot member 65 so as to move the resilient closure member 66 carried thereby into frictional engagement with the lower surface of the bottom wall 22 of the bottom form unit or core 20 and into position to close the corresponding slot or opening 58 in the bottom wall 22 of the bottom form unit or core 20 so that the resilient closure member 66 is placed under slight compression under and engages partially within the slot or opening 58 and thus closes the slot or opening 58 during the molding operation to prevent escape of the concrete mix from the mold cavity MC during the molding operation while, at the same time, locking the supporting brackets 64 for the cylindrical closure member 66, the cylindrical closure member 66 and the manually operable handle member 67-68-70 in position of use with the upper end portion 70 thereof engaging the bail portion 91 of the handle member 55-59-91 so as to retain the handle member 55 in proper position of use during the molding operation. This operation is repeated for all of the four of the wire handle retaining units 57.

Suitable fastening means in the form of wire members 90 are then wound around or interlaced with portions of the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing sheet ma terial 40 and the wire fastening members 90 are also wound around the laterally projecting arm 59 of the generally U-shaped wire handle members 55-59-91 (FIGS. 6, 7 and 25) so as to anchor or fasten the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material 40 in position of use above the bottom wall 22 of the bottom form unit or core 20, and in the area which becomes the mold cavity MC when the top form unit or core 20-21-27 is inserted into position of use in or upon the lower or hottcgm form unit or core 20, as will be described hereina ter.

The top or upper burial vault cover forming unit 21- 27 is then inserted into position of use in the generally trough-shaped lower form unit 20, as indicated in FIG. 17, so that the marginal flange thereon comes to rest on the side walls 26 of the lower form unit 20, as best shown in FIG. 12, whereupon the upper form unit 21- 27 and the lower or bottom form unit are assembled in position of use, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 12 and 18, with the bottom 22-23-24-26 of the lower form unit 20 spaced from the bottom 28-29-30-31 of the upper form unit 21 to provide the mold cavity MC therebetween.

The upper form unit 21-27 and the lower form unit 20 are then detachably latched together by inserting the headed latching pins 53-54 through the pin-receiving latch openings 52 and 50 in the latch members 50 and 48, respectively, as best shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, thereby detachably latching the upper or top form unit 21-27 to the lower or bottom form unit 20-27.

Each of the end anchoring units 69 is then moved into the effective or operative position by raising the pivotal latch member 76 upon its hinge 77 and manually sliding the anchoring rod or pin member 70 outwardly (from dotted to full line position in FIG. 14) so that the outer end portion of each of the anchoring rods or pin members 70 project into the mold cavity MC and into those areas thereof which are defined by the upwardly extending end wall portions 23-24 of the bottom wall 22 of the lower form unit 20 and by the complementary upwardly extending end wall portions 29-30 of the bottom wall 28 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21-27, so that the outer end portions 71 of the anchoring rods or pin members 70 are disposed in the position in which they are shown in FIGS. 4, 5, l4, l5 and 18. The hinged latch members 76 are then pivoted downwardly on their hinges 77 so as to engage the latching disc 75 on each of the anchoring rods or pin members 70-71 between two of the latching teeth 78 on the hinged latch member 76, and thereby hold the anchoring rods or pin members 70-71 in effective position during the molding operation.

The exact position of the end anchoring rods or pin members 70-71, that is, the extent to which the outer end portions thereof may be extended outwardly into the mold cavity MC, may be varied by reason of the plurality of spaced latching teeth 78 on the latch members 76.

Each of the side anchoring units 69a may then be manipulated into effective otr anchoring position, as illustrated in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 of the drawings, by sliding the anchoring rods or pin members 70a on the supporting brackets 73a and 74a so that the outer end portions 71a of the anchoring rods or pin members 70a project into the mold cavity MC at the sides thereof. The latch members 84-85 may then be pivoted on their hinges 77 into the position in which they are shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24, with the anchoring discs 75a on the anchoring rods or pin members 70a latchingly engaged in the latching notches 83 of the arms 84 of the latch members 85, thereby anchoring the Side anchoring rods or pin members 70a-71a with the outer end portions 71a thereof projecting through the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material 40 and into the mold cavity MC.

It will be understood, that the manipulation of the end and side anchoring units 69 and 69a, respectively, is accomplished manually by working through the opening 36 in the top wall 35 of the box-like upper section 22 of the top form unit 21.

It will thus be noted that when the end anchoring rods or pin members 70-71 and side anchoring rods or pin members 70a-71a are thus moved into position of use the outer end portions 71 and 71a project through the wire mesh reinforcing material 40 and thus cooperate with the laterally extending arms 59 of the generally U-shaped wire handle members 55-59-91 to retain the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material 40 in proper position within the mold cavity MC during the molding operation and so that it will be properly embedded in the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 during and after the completion of the molding operation.

When the parts are thus assembled, the concrete mix may be poured from the hopper 38 into the funnel-shaped member 93, and thence through the throat or inlet 37 into the mold cavity MC (FIG. so as to fill the mold cavity and to cover the wire mesh reinforcing material 40 previously inserted therein. During this operation the guide flange 25 on the upper end portion of the bottom form unit helps to direct the concrete mix through the inlet or throat 37 into the mold cavity MC.

After the pouring operation has been completed and the concrete body 39 of the burial cover vault 41 has set for a predetermined and desired length of time, the outer end portions 71 of the end anchoring rods or pin members 70 and the outer end portions 71a of the side anchoring rods or pin members 70a will be anchored in the body 39 of the concrete cover form 41 and the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 will thus be anchored to the bottom wall 28 and to the upwardly extending end Walls 29-30 and side walls 81 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21.

Suitable hoist chains may then be attached to the grappling hooks 89 on the box-like upper section 32 of the top form unit 21 and the entire top form unit 21-27 and attached body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 may then be lifted or hoisted out of and away from the bottom form unit 20, and above the latter, as illustrated in FIG. 17, and into the position in which the top form unit 21-27 and attached burial vault cover 39-41 are shown in FIG. 18. During this operation the bail portions 91 of the wire handle members 55 pass through the slots 58 in the bottom Wall 22 of the bottom form unit 21. The top form unit 21-27 and the attached body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 may then be rested upon a suitable horizontal support, such as a wheel-bearing cart 93, as shown in FIG. 19.

The latch members 76 of the end latching units 69 may then be pivoted on their hinges 77 to disengage the latch teeth 78 thereon from the latch discs 75 on the anchoring rods or pins 70-71 whereupon the end anchoring rods or pins 70-71 may be manually slid inwardly to remove the outer end portions 71 thereof from the body 39 of the concrete burial vault cover 41, and thus detach the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 from the top form unit 31-27. Similarly, the latch members 84-85 of the side latching units 69a may be manipulated on their hinges 87 so as to disengage the notched latching arms 84-83 thereof from the latching discs 75a on the latching rods or pin members 70(1-71a. The side latching rods or pin members may then be manually slid in their supporting brackets 73a and 7411 so as to withdraw the end portions 71a out of the body 39 of the vault cover 12 and out of the mold cavity MC, through the openings 82:; in the side walls 81 of the bottom wall 28 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21.

After the anchoring pins or rod members 70 and 70a have thus been disengaged from the body 39 of the concrete burial vault 41, the top form unit 21-27 may then be lifted off the body 39 of the thus cast or molded burial vault cover 41 by means of hoisting chains attached to the grappling hooks 89, on the box-like upper section 32 of the top form unit 21-27, as set forth hereinbefore, whereupon the thus formed or cast burial vault cover 41 may be transported to a warehouse or like place for storage and further curing.

In the use of the present invention it has been found that the forming of the burial vault cover 41 by means of the new burial vault cover forming apparatus 15 greatly expedites the formation of burial vault covers and enables them to be formed relatively economically and expeditiously and of consistently uniform design and appearance, thereby effecting an economy in the manufacture of the burial vault covers and improving the general appearance and design thereof.

It has also been found in the use of the new burial vault cover forming and molding apparatus 15 that the concrete burial vault cover 41 formed thereby consistently have uniform texture and tensile strength and are uniform in shape and appearance as distinguished from the frequently imperfect texture, tensile strength and appearance in concrete burial vault covers formed largely by hand molding operations.

One of the advantages in the use of the new burial vault cover forming apparatus, and in the practice of the new method of forming concrete burial vault covers, resides in the fact that since the burial vault cover 41 is formed and molded in inverted position any air bubbles which may form in the concrete mix and in the body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 during the molding operation flow upwardly through the concrete mix toward the bottom wall 28 of the lower section 27 of the top form unit 21. Hence, if any air pockets or holes are thus formed in the then upper surface of the body 39 of the burial vault cover, as a result of escape of air bubbles therethrough, this is in no way damaging to the appearance of the top surface of the burial vault cover 41 for the reason that the surface through which the air bubbles thus escape becomes, in use, the bottom surface of the burial vault cover 41, and such air pockets or holes in the bottom surface of the burial vault cover 41 are not seen in the use of the completed burial vault cover 41.

In this manner the present invention overcomes one of the problems heretofore experienced in the art of making burial vault covers and which resides in the fact that in prior art methods of molding such concrete burial vault covers, formation of undesirable air holes formed in the top surface of such concrete burial vault cover are highly objectionable from the standpoint of appearance of the completed burial vault cover, and otherwise.

It will also be noted that the present invention accomplishes the desirable result of properly positioning and retaining the sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material 40 within the mold cavity MC during the molding operation, and after the completion thereof, thereby adding substantially to the tensile strength and general uniformity of construction of the new burial vault cover 41 which is formed in the use of the new burial vault cover forming apparatus.

A further advantage in the use of the new burial vault cover forming and molding apparatus resides in the fact that, as best illustrated in FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 of the drawings, the cast or molded body 39 of the burial vault cover 41 is separated from the top form unit 21-27 while the burial vault cover 39-41 is in inverted position, inverted from its normal position of use, thereby eliminating the necessity for turning the molded but still green and not fully cured burial vault cover 39-41, as has 13 been common practice hereinbefore in the art. In this manner the danger of fracturing the outer marginal edge portions and other parts of the green or uncured burial vault cover is likewise eliminated.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved burial vault cover forming and molding apparatus having the desirable advantages and characteristics and accomplishing its intended objects including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

We claim:

1. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus comprising:

(1) a bottom form unit including a bottom Wall portion and marginal wall portions extending therearound;

(2) a top form unit including a bottom wall portion and marginal wall portions extending therearound and adapted to rest upon the marginal walls of the said bottom form unit;

(3) means for supporting the said bottom form unit with the said top form unit thereon at an acute angle relative to the horizontal and with the said bottom wall and marginal wall portions thereof spaced from each other to provide a mold cavity therebetween;

(4) means providing an inlet at the upper end of said burial vault cover forming apparatus for pouring concrete mix into the said mold cavity;

(5) means for detachably latching the said top form unit to the said bottom form unit; and

(6) means carried by the said top form unit for detachably anchoring the said top form unit to the body of a concrete burial vault cover formed in the said mold cavity during the molding operation.

-2. A burial vault cover forming unit as defined in claim 1 which incldes a plurality of said anchoring means arranged at spaced intervals at the ends and sides of said top form unit.

3. A burial vault cover forming unit as defined in claim 1 in which the said anchoring means includes:

(1) manually operable anchoring members movably mounted within the said top form unit and each having an outer end portion removably insertable into the said mold cavity as to be anchored to the body of the concrete burial vault cover formed therein during the molding operation.

4. A burial vault cover forming unit as defined in claim 1 in which the said anchoring means includes:

(1) manually operable anchoring members movably mounted within the said top form unit and each having an outer end portion removably insertable into the said mold cavity so as to be anchored to the body of the concrete burial vault cover formed therein during the molding operation, and in which said anchoring means includes (2) manually operable latching means movably mounted in the said top form unit for releasably latching the said anchoring members in position of use during the molding operation.

5. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim -1 which includes: 7

(l) a plurality of said anchoring means arranged at spaced intervals within and around the body of the said top form unit and each of said anchoring means including an anchoring rod or pin member;

. (2) means for slidably supporting each of said anchoring rods or pin members within the said top form unit with the outer portions of said anchoring rods or pin members slidably movable into and out of the said mold cavity; and

. (3) manually operable latching means mounted in said top form unit for latching said anchoring rods or pin members in eifective position with the outer end por- 14 tions thereof projecting into the said molding cavity during the molding operation.

6. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 1 which includes:

(1) a plurality of said anchoring means arranged at spaced intervals within the body of the said top form unit and each of said anchoring means including an anchoring rod or pin member;

(2) means for slidably supporting each of said anchoring rods or pin members within the said top form unit with the outer portions of said anchoring rods or pin members slidably movable into and out of said mold cavity;

(3) manually operable means for latching said anchoring rods or pin members in effective position with the outer portions thereof projecting into the said molding cavity during the molding operation;

(4) a latching member carried by each of said anchoring rods or pin members between the ends thereof;

(5) a latching member hingedly mounted within the said top form unit, and each of said hingedly mounted latching members having (6) latching means thereon latchingly engageable with the said latching member on the corresponding of said anchoring rods or pin members so as to latch the said anchoring rods or pin members in position of use during the molding operation.

7. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 5 which includes:

a plurality of spaced supporting members arranged at intervals within the said top form unit for slidably supporting each of the said anchoring rods or pin members therein.

' 8. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the bottom wall of the said bottom form unit has (1) a plurality of slots or openings formed therein at spaced intervals therearound for inserting the arm portions of generally U-shaped wire handle members therethrough into the said mold cavity;

(2) means for supporting said generally U-shaped wire handle members and the said arm portions thereof with the said arm portions thereof projecting through the said slots or openings in the said bottom form unit into the said mold cavity; and

(3) means for retaining the said generally U-shaped wire handle members in position of use with the said arms thereof projecting into the said mold cavity during the molding operation.

9. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the bottom wall of the said bottom form unit has (1) a plurality of slots or openings formed therein at spaced intervals therearound for inserting the arm portions of generally U-shaped wire handle members therethrough into the said mold cavity;

(2) means for supporting said generally U-shaped wire handle members and the said arm portions thereof with the said arm portions thereof projecting through the said slots or openings in the said bottom form unit into the said mold cavity;

(3) means for retaining the said generally U-shaped wire handle members in position of use with the said arms thereof projecting into the said mold cavity during the molding operation, said retaining means including I (4) supporting means carried by the said bottom form unit and engaged with the bail portions of said genenerally U-shaped'wire handle members for supporting the said generally U-shaped wire handle members in position with the said arms thereof projecting into .the said mold cavity; and t (5) manually operable means cooperating with the said supporting means and engageable with the said bail portions of said generally U-shaped handle members for retaining the said generally U-shaped wire handle members on the said supporting means therefor.

10. A burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 8 which includes:

manually operable closure means for closing each of said slots or openings in the said bottom wall of the said bottom form unit during the molding operation and for opening the said slots or openings in the said bottom wall of the bottom form unit after the completion of the molding operation.

11. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the bottom Wall of the said bottom form unit has (1) a plurality of slots or openings formed therein at spaced intervals therearound for inserting the arm portions of generally U-shaped wire handle members therethrough into the said mold cavity;

(2) means for supporting said generally U-shaped wire handle members and the said arm portions thereof with the said arm portions thereof projecting through the said slots or openings in the said bottom form unit into the said mold cavity;

(3) means for retaining the said generally U-shaped wire handle members in position of use with the said arms thereof projecting into the said mold cavity during the molding operation, said retaining means including (4) supporting means carried by the said bottom form unit for supporting the bail portions of the said generally U-shaped wire handle members in position with said arms thereof projecting into the said mold cavity;

(5) manually operable means cooperating with the said supporting means and engageable with the said bail portions of said generally U-shaped wire handle members for retaining the said generally U-shaped wire handle members on the said supporting means therefor;

(6) closure means for closing each of the said slots or openings in the, said bottom wall of the said bottom form unit during the molding operation;

(7) means pivotally mounting said closure means for movement into and out of position to close a corresponding one of the said slots or openings in the bottom wall of said bottom form unit during the molding operation; and

(8) a common manually operable operating means for operating the said retaining means and the said closure means.

12. A burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which the said top form unit includes:

a trough-like lower section and a box-like upper section including a top wall having an opening therein through which manual access may be had to the said anchoring means for manipulating the latter.

13. A burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which the said manually operable closure means includes:

(1) a resilient and generally cylindrcial closure member;

(2) pivotal closure supporting means for supporting the said resilient and generally cylindrical closure member for movement into and out of engagement with the bottom wall of said bottom form unit and below a corresponding one of the said slots or opening therein and so as to close the latter; and

(3) means for manually operating the said pivotal closure supporting means.

14. A burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which the said manually operable closure means includes:

(1) a resilient and generally cylindrical closure member;

(2) pivotal closure supporting means for supporting the said resilient and generally cylindrical closure 16 member for movement into and out of engagement with the bottom wall of said bottom form unit and below a corresponding one of the said slots or openings therein so as to close and open the latter; and 5 (3) a common manually operable operating means for manually operating the said retaining means for the said generally U-shaped wire handle members and for the said pivotal closure supporting means. 15. A burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined 1 in claim 13 which includes:

(1) supporting means carried by the bottom wall of said bottom form unit for supporting said generally U-shaped wire handle members with the said arms thereof extending into the mold cavity; and in which said operating means for said pivotal closure supporting means includes (2) a portion retaining the said generally U-shaped wire handle member upon the said supporting means therefor during the molding operation.

16. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus for forming a concrete burial vault cover having a sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material and having generally U-shaped wire handle members embedded therein, comprising:

(1) a bottom form unit including a bottom wall portion and marginal wall portions extending therearound;

(2) a top form unit including a bottom wall portion and marginal wall portions extending therearound and adapted to rest upon the marginal walls of said bottom form unit;

(3) means for detachably latching the said top form unit to the said bottom form unit in spaced relationship relative to each other to provide a mold cavity therebetween; and

(4) means carried by the said top form unit and including members adapted to be projected into the said mold cavity and through the said sheet of wire reinforcing material arranged therein for detachably anchoring the said top form unit to the said sheet of wire reinforcing material and to the body of the said concrete burial vault cover and during the molding operation.

17. A concrete burial vault cover forming apparatus for forming a concrete burial vault cover having a sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material and having generally U-shaped wire handle members embedded therein, comprising:

(1) a bottom form unit including a bottom wall portion and marginal wall portions extending therearound;

(2) a top form unit including a bottom wall portion and marginal wall portions extending therearound and adapted to rest upon the marginal walls of said bottom form unit;

(3) means for detachably latching the said top form unit to the said bottom form unit in spaced relationship relative to each other to provide a mold cavity therebetween;

(4) means carried by the said top form unit and including members adapted to be projected into the said mold cavity and through the said sheet of wire reinforcing material arranged therein for detachably anchoring the said top form unit to the said sheet of wire reinforcing material and to the body of the said concrete burial vault cover and during the molding operation;

(5) means carried by the bottom form unit for retain- 1ng the said generally U-shaped wire handle members on the said bottom form unit and with the arm portions thereof projecting into the mold cavity during the molding operation; and

(6) fastening means anchoring the said sheet of wire mesh reinforcing material to the said arms of the said generally Uwshaped wire handle members.

1 7 1 8 18. A burial vault cover forming apparatus as defined (3) flexible wire fastening means anchoring the said in claim 17 in which the said bottom'form unit has laterally offset arm portions of the said generally (1) a plurality of slots or openings formed therein at U-shaped Wire handle members to the said sheet of spaced intervals therearound and i whi h a h of wire mesh reinforcing material in the mold cavity. the said generally U-shaped wire handle members 5 has laterally offset arm portions which are adapted References Clted to be projected through each of the said slots or open- UNITED STATES PATENTS g n the bottom W ll of the bottom form unit k b intothemld cavity; 2274236 2/1942 -H k s 249-146 XR (2) means for retaining the said generally U-shaped 10 2:616:146 11/1952 op In Haase 25-130 WII'e handle e b r Wlth the said laterally offset 2 73 504 2 1959 Lager 25 130 arm Portions t r f projecting through the said slots 2 95 207 7 1959 Johnson 25 130 or openings in the bottom wall of the said bottom form unit and into the mold cavity; and J. HOWARD FLINT, 111., Primary Examiner. 

16. A CONCRETE BURIAL VAULT COVER FORMING APPARATUS FOR FORMING A CONCRETE BURIAL VAULT COVER HAVING A SHEET OF WIRE MESH REINFORCING MATERIAL AND HAVING GENERALLY U-SHAPED WIRE HANDLE MEMBERS EMBEDDED THEREIN, COMPRISING: (1) A BOTTOM FORM UNIT INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL PORTION AND MARGINAL WALL PORTION EXTENDING THEREAROUND; (2) A TOP FORM UNIT INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL PORTION AND MARGINAL WALL PORTION EXTENDING THEREAROUND AND ADAPTED TO REST UPON THE MARGINAL WALLS OF SAID BOTTOM FORM UNIT; (3) MEANS FOR DETACHABLY LATCHING THE SAID TOP FORM UNIT TO THE SAID BOTTOM FORM UNIT IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE A MOLD CAVITY THEREBETWEEN; AND (4) MEANS CARRIED BY THE SAID TOP FORM UNIT AND INCLUDING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BE PROJECTED INTO THE SAID MOLD CAVITY AND THROUGH THE SAID SHEET OF WIRE REINFORCING MATERIAL ARRANGED THEREIN FOR DETACHABLY ANCHORING THE SAID TOP FORM UNIT TO THE SAID SHEET OF WIRE REINFORCING MATERIAL TO THE BODY OF THE SAID CONCRETE BURIAL VAULT COVER AND DURING THE MOLDING OPERATION. 